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Zanzibar Coins

The monetary history of Zanzibar is fascinating and reflects the political and economic changes of this Indian Ocean island. From its independence in 1963 to its union with Tanganyika to form Tanzania in 1964, Zanzibar has undergone several changes in its monetary system.

Currencies used in Zanzibar

Prior to independence, Zanzibar used the East African Rupee, issued by the East African Currency Board. After the 1964 revolution, the revolutionary government of Zanzibar briefly issued its own banknotes denominated in Zanzibar shillings. However, this currency was short-lived, as shortly after the union with Tanganyika, the Tanzanian shilling was adopted as the official currency of the newly unified nation.

Numismatic Landmarks of Zanzibar

An important milestone in Zanzibar numismatics was the issuance of commemorative coins in 1987 to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the revolution. These coins, minted in silver and gold, are highly valued by collectors. In addition, the 1964 Zanzibar banknotes, issued during the brief period of independence, are considered rare and valuable pieces in the numismatic world, given their short period of circulation and the limited quantity produced.

If you are a passionate collector, this catalog offers the possibility to create your own personal collection. You can add your coins and generate a free PDF catalog from a complete database and our management tools. In addition, once registered, you will have the opportunity to exchange coins with other collectors around the world easily and free of charge.

📢 Zanzibar is a country that does not exist today. It is now part of the Tanzania coins.

The most valuable coins

The most valuable Zanzibar coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:

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The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.

Swapping available Note the coins labelled with this message, it means that there are collectors who have that coin and are willing to make a swap. Visit their collection from their personal page.

Coin Catalog

1 pysa

FO#7136 KM#1
Price: 8,60€
Year: 1882
Weight: 6,50 g
Composition: Copper
Diameter: 25,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

1/4 ryal

FO#9186 KM#2
Year: 1882
Weight:
Composition: Silver
Diameter: 25,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1/2 ryal

FO#9187 KM#3
Year: 1881
Weight:
Composition: Silver
Diameter: 31,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1 ryal

FO#9188 KM#4
Year: 1882
Weight: 27,16 g
Composition: Silver
Diameter: 37,50 mm
Edge: Ribbed

2 1/2 ryal

FO#9189 KM#5
Year: 1881
Weight:
Composition: Gold
Diameter:
Edge: Ribbed

5 ryal

FO#9190 KM#6
Year: 1881
Weight: 8,36 g
Composition: Gold
Diameter:
Edge: Ribbed

1 pysa

FO#9191 KM#7
Price: 20,00€
Year: 1886
Weight: 5,70 g
Composition: Copper
Diameter: 25,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 cent

FO#9192 KM#8
Year: 1908
Weight: 2,79 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 20,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

10 cents

FO#9193 KM#9
Year: 1908
Weight: 9,40 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 31,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

20 cents

FO#9194 KM#10
Year: 1908
Weight: 4,86 g
Composition: Nickel
Diameter: 20,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Zanzibar

Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.